Ayumi Hamasaki offends S Korean fans during concert with Japanese war flag

Ayumi Hamasaki was the reigning queen of J-Pop in the early 2000s. Her music helped shape the J-pop scene in not only her home country, but in many parts of Asia as well. Once considered Japan’s Madonna, Hamasaki isn’t as popular as she once was, but she still retains a sizable fan base.

Recently though, Hamasaki managed to irk some loyal fans during one of her live concerts. According to South Korean news outlet MyDaily, the singer donned a jacket she borrowed from one of her backup dancers and uploaded a video of her wearing it onto Instagram. The jacket had a Japanese flag emblazoned on it, but unfortunately for Hamasaki, it was actually a war flag.

That particular flag is called the Rising Sun Flag and is considered by many to be a symbol of Japanese Imperialism, as it was predominantly used by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

Korea suffered oppression under the Japanese during that tumultuous period, and having fans see their favorite singer wearing a symbol of that brutality — even if unintentional — was like a slap in the face.

South Korean netizens were incredibly upset:

“I’m so disappointed.”

“It’s a sin if you don’t know about it.”

“Didn’t you realize it when you saw the jacket?”

Which caused a mortified Hamasaki to mosaic the flag before reuploading the video.

Some netizens were willing to forgive, but some were not so quick to forget:

“It’s too late. You shouldn’t have uploaded it in the first place.”

“Good thing she managed to correct her mistake.”

“She didn’t have ill intentions.”

“So it’s all right if you just mosaic it? I don’t think the video has any meaning at all.”

“I don’t understand why you have to mosaic it then upload it again.”

One would have to wonder why no one decided to take it out on the backup dancer, since he was the one who wore the offensive jacket to the concert. Perhap it’s the curse of celebrity, but in any case, here’s hoping Hamasaki’s good intentions win back her fans.

Nov. 13, 2017
07:08 am JST

Ladies and gents it's this absurd ignorance that will keep bringing the issues up over and over again. Like I've said before, absent of any real contrition as exhibited by post war Germany, expect more of the same ad infinitum

Nov. 13, 2017
07:34 am JST

Nov. 13, 2017
07:37 am JST

Cripes, Hamasaki is not the brightest star in the universe. In her defense however, her staff and entourage should have known better, but they as well, like many in Japan too, are ignorant about their own history and the relationship between Japan and Korea.

But I guess ignorance of something is no excuse in the law of the WWW.

Nov. 13, 2017
07:46 am JST

That is the Japanese Naval Ensign. It flies side by side with the United States Navy- which protects South Korea. Maybe Koreans don't know that it was the United States that defeated Imperial Japan. Which had 240,000 Koreans serving in it's military. How do you un-do decades of brainwashing?

Nov. 13, 2017
07:51 am JST

Nov. 13, 2017
08:01 am JST

To those who see in Japan "a lack of repentance" or "remorse" or "contrition", a few essential comments: (1) We cannot see another's heart moving in this mode or any other. We see only the outside and guess. For direct, insightful evidence of a heart, one needs to match the feeling with one's own. This, however, is also guessing in a way and can only be done with GOOD modes, not with deficient ones. (See St. Thomas Aquinas on knowledge by "connaturality".) (2) Theologically speaking, "the contrition only helps"--it does not cause forgiveness. (Contrition is called a "maid-servant" in relation to the grace of forgiveness in the traditions that use the word "contrition.") (3) Specific knowledge of detailed symbols to avoid in other defeated or victorious nations is quite different from mental turning away from war-guilt. It may be a fruit of repentance to study hard in order not to offend, but study is not everyone's forte.

Nov. 13, 2017
08:20 am JST

That is the Japanese Naval Ensign. It flies side by side with the United States Navy- which protects South Korea.

Brainwashing ? Once again you re diluting the issue by bringing the US into it. Totally irrelevant to this.

I think its just a genuine oversight on her part, she probably didnt realize it at the time , and personally think its no big deal..but i do understand why others (eg people whose relatives suffered under J aggression in WW2 ) would be upset. Same as when Lady Gaga wears a Nazi gear, for example.

Its precisely this condensending " get over your brainwashing" nonsense attitude that keeps the past issues burning.

Nov. 13, 2017
08:22 am JST

I'm guessing she wasn't expecting that her fans would be happy that she put up a video. The flag probably didn't throw up any flags (pun intended) in her mind.

It's like a client one time who sent me a screenshot, and their browser was the page they wanted me to see, but I could he had a bunch of tabs open to porn sites. I don't think he was expecting me to see it, he probably just didn't notice it.

Nov. 13, 2017
08:30 am JST

Nov. 13, 2017
08:39 am JST

How do you un-do decades of brainwashing?

Funny. This is the Rising Sun Flag, adopted by the Meiji Govt in 1860 and carried into battle, together with the Hinomaru, in Japans many wars until 1945. It was dropped following Japans defeat in 1945 but made a return when the SDF was formed in 1953. Its got history, as you know.

Nov. 13, 2017
08:50 am JST

Nov. 13, 2017
08:53 am JST

marcelitoToday 08:20 am JSTThat is the Japanese Naval Ensign. It flies side by side with the United States Navy- which protects South Korea.

Brainwashing ? Once again you re diluting the issue by bringing the US into it. Totally irrelevant to this.

Not irrelevant at all. It's recognized as a Naval Ensign, not some equivalent of a "Nazi flag".

Its precisely this condensending " get over your brainwashing" nonsense attitude that keeps the past issues burning.

It's your denial of the brainwashing that has gone on in South Korean schools over the last few decades that keeps this issue burning. The previous Pres Park Gyun-Hye was actively working on eliminating the bias in South Korean textbooks towards Japan.

Nov. 13, 2017
08:57 am JST

Funny. This is the Rising Sun Flag, adopted by the Meiji Govt in 1860 and carried into battle, together with the Hinomaru, in Japans many wars until 1945. It was dropped following Japans defeat in 1945 but made a return when the SDF was formed in 1953. Its got history, as you know.

Wrong. When the United States FORCED Japan to create the JSDF in violation of Article 9 which we imposed upon them, the JMSDF did not adopt that flag. It was not adopted again until 1968, with absolutely no complaint or protest from the United States.

Nov. 13, 2017
09:26 am JST

She, and probably most people from Japan, think that symbol isn't offensive. It's not even really considered offensive outside of Korea and China. But if she, or Japan, is ever dependent on the markets of both those countries, then they better know what's up.

I find it hard that she doesn't know the sensitivities surrounding that symbol though. The funny thing is, with the mosaic thing on, now it'll look like her jacket has an image of a genital.

Nov. 13, 2017
09:31 am JST

Nov. 13, 2017
09:36 am JST

This article is misleading, that isn’t the IJA flag, it’s the naval flag that is still used by the J navy. There is no issue whatsoever with her wearing this supporting the nation’s navy like people do in every nation on Earth. SK is becoming increasingly desperate and farcical to find offense and outrage these days..

Nov. 13, 2017
09:41 am JST

Nov. 13, 2017
09:47 am JST

kohakuebisuToday 09:16 am JST There may be t-shirts or whatever with this flag on in the West, but I would not recommend wearing one when the Burma Railway Veterans' Association are having a meeting in your pub.

Nov. 13, 2017
09:52 am JST

These 'artists' are absolutely clueless. I bet she'd wear a swastika if she thought it were cool. Absolutely no idea. We're talking a person who keeps on marrying the first white guy she sees and has lied about 'feeling homesick' for Japan as an excuse to get a divorce. What was the reason for the second.

Frankly, I thought she'd retired. I've never thought of her as a singer, especially after hearing one of her live concerts on a TV in a record shop. Horrible.

Nov. 13, 2017
09:56 am JST

Japanese are not taught so much about their "warrior" past, only that big bad America dropped a nuclear bomb on them. I will bet if you talk to Japanese young people, they have no idea how much of Asia they controlled back then.

Nov. 13, 2017
10:20 am JST

Nov. 13, 2017
10:30 am JST

given her popularity (even if its in the past), and experience as a performer, she should have known better... while its the "back up dancer's" jacket still she / her team should have known better. The mosaic is somewhat pointless. It is more ignorance than malice.

Nov. 13, 2017
10:32 am JST

This kind of reaction is what breeds the new generation of ethnic nationalists.

My boyfriend used to put that same flag inside his car, and he was called an "Uyoku" and basically shamed to take it off.

The flag itself isn't a simbol of hate or anything, it is the flag that has been used by the Japanese forces since 1868. Yes, there was the second world war, and Japan did a lot of bad stuff, but the flag doesn't symbolize that.

These people are just trying to look for meaning in things were there is none.

It will come the time when even the flag of Japan, or any mention about Japan will be seen as a "trigger" to get offended by people who want to be offended.

This rethoric gives the real rasists and ultranationalists the amunition and popular support so that history can repeat itself.

Nov. 13, 2017
11:23 am JST

Nov. 13, 2017
11:34 am JST

it's a naval ensign and flown on all Japanese ships. but its also a flag of Japanese wartime aggression. millions died under that flag and what it represented at the time. Gos to show which countries actually teach their kid about the history of war and which ones brush the unpleasant facts under the carpet and just teach the victimized parts of the war

Nov. 13, 2017
11:38 am JST

A rising flag is still using to design like clothes in Japan. but I think there are few people know bout rising flag's true meaning that a symbol Japanese Imperialism when during World War Ⅱ to imperial Japanese army.

But she and her stuff should have checked the wearing can use in other country. If she had no intention, it was not good thing to fan felt disappear.

Nov. 13, 2017
11:38 am JST

I love the rising sun flag, too bad many netizens are just racists. you need to read about the true facts of WW2 and the atrocities that flag represented at the time. If you still feel proud about wear it on a jacket then your the one that needs to look at yourself in the mirror.

Nov. 13, 2017
11:42 am JST

I will bet if you talk to Japanese young people, they have no idea how much of Asia they controlled back then. and slaughtered, the IJA slaughtered more than twice as many asians during the war (vast majority civilians) than all the US and Japans fatalities combined

Nov. 13, 2017
11:49 am JST

Nov. 13, 2017
11:50 am JST

people always looking for stuff to be mad about geeez, when people do things that insult others what do you expect, imagine if I wore a jacket with a mushroom cloud on the back and Hiroshima as the title , do you think the J netizens would get upset!?

Nov. 13, 2017
11:56 am JST

but its also a flag of Japanese wartime aggression.

It seems that some people never even try to check their facts before commenting. It is a different flag from the flag used during WWII. At present, the flag above (the one on the jacket) is the insign used by the Japanese navy and, yes, it is true! Japan renounces war.

Nov. 13, 2017
12:11 pm JST

People can’t forget of the past, I can understand. But I think a singer wearing clothes is only a matter of fashion. Maybe they’re just want to create topic. But I think the verbal attacks can hurt the singer. There are have same situation happened in Chinese singer. A Chinese singer wearing a Chinese flag image clothes performance in Vietnam. She was verbal attacked from fans. A few years she can’t get the job. It was very terrible. I think singer must be careful to their own dress. Avoid unnecessary trouble.

Nov. 13, 2017
12:39 pm JST

No big deal, just a fashion thing. Bit like those army jackets/coats some of us used to wear as teens, you know the ones with the german/us flag patch on the arm. Same with army school bags.

Then other flags became popular, the more 'obscure' the country (or the cause) the better i.e Iran, Cambodia, Palestine, NK, Nicaragua, Colombia etc. I still see them around, even in japan.

My point is, most 'controversial' flags/symbols have lost their initial meaning as 'normal' ppl have reclaimed them, which is a good thing imo. Would Ayumi's fans complain if she had the Khmer rouge flag patched onto her friend's jacket? Don't think so. Most would probably think 'wow, that's cool, never seen it before! Is that the Osaka castle? Himeji?'

Nov. 13, 2017
12:47 pm JST

Nov. 13, 2017
01:08 pm JST

wtfjapanToday 11:34 am JSTit's a naval ensign and flown on all Japanese ships. but its also a flag of Japanese wartime aggression.

The Japanese naval ensign came into use in the 1800s. It flew alongside the Union Jack during the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902. It flew on Japanese naval ships that escorted Australian troops to the European theater in WWI. It has a history long before WWII.

Nov. 13, 2017
01:37 pm JST

It's your denial of the brainwashing that has gone on in South Korean schools over the last few decades that keeps this issue burning.

Umm... just in!

It's the inconvenient fact (!) that Japan has a sickening past that they have never meaningfully confronted, well documented in text books and literature all around the world, that keeps the issue burning.

The US has been responsible for the deaths of almost 30 million people since WWII.

You make a valid point, but let's get 'back on topic'...

if you have to read about stuff to be offended about it, I would rather chill and have a beer. Who cares

Well, at least you have outed yourself. I'll tell you who cares, though; the people who don't want the past to ever happen again but can, sadly, see history was never dealt with properly - and see it all happening again. But enjoy your beer while you can...

Nov. 13, 2017
01:39 pm JST

Well, my father was in the navy of Imperial Japan when he fought against USA and Australians + allies under the rising sun (the flag of navy), if the enemies of that time was blaming I understand, but Koreans were also on board of those war ships, a big gap of recent generations S. Koreans to continuous blame for that after more than 30 years in military dictatorship in their country makes this so disgraceful opinions of vain.

Nov. 13, 2017
02:11 pm JST

The Japanese naval ensign came into use in the 1800s. It flew alongside the Union Jack during the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902. It flew on Japanese naval ships that escorted Australian troops to the European theater in WWI. It has a history long before WWII. then 30 yrs later it was the symbol of Japanese aggression and the slaughter of millions. Other countries respected Hitler until his invasion of Poland.

Nov. 13, 2017
02:19 pm JST

Nov. 13, 2017
02:26 pm JST

you need to read about the true facts of WW2 and the atrocities that flag represented at the time. If you still feel proud about wear it on a jacket then your the one that needs to look at yourself in the mirror.

But once again, the flag on the jacket is not the flag which the Korean fans think it is. And yes, it is ignorance but this time not on the Japanese side.

Nov. 13, 2017
02:29 pm JST

Nov. 13, 2017
02:55 pm JST

Japanese Naval Ensign

Well there is no navy in Japan any more. How do you undo generations of brainwashing? By having frank and honest education in both countries starting with Japan as the aggressor or transgressor. How could Japanese citizens not know the history of imperial Japan and the significance of that flag in Korea unless the Japanese Government was trying to whitewash it's own history, an accusation all too often leveled at the LDP Germany doesn'T have these bad relations with it's neighbors, but it also explicitly educates it's people on it's aggressive past, the Japanese, not so much.

Nov. 13, 2017
03:11 pm JST

Nov. 13, 2017
03:13 pm JST

One important unanswered question, exactly where was the live concert? There is no mention of it actually taking place in Korea.

Koreans really do seem to have an issue with getting over sufferings of their grandparents 70 plus years ago. Remember the WBC baseball match up where the Koreans thought placing their national flag over the mound was part of the game? And now involving the rest of the world with their comfort women statues which were fine at home in Korea. As already mentioned, the present Japanese navy still uses this flag. So why wasnt this a big issue before some pop singer borrowed her dancers jacket.?

Nov. 13, 2017
03:18 pm JST

If she was performing in Cambodia? Yes, I expect they would. she posted it on the internet for all to see, last I checked the internet was an international medium not isolated to Japan. Comfort women statues in the US Australia Korea should be perfectly fine also since theyre not in Japan!?

Nov. 13, 2017
03:48 pm JST

OssanAmerica: "Which had 240,000 Koreans serving in it's military. How do you un-do decades of brainwashing?"

I recommend starting by looking in the mirror and tossing away your Japanese textbooks.

"That is the Japanese Naval Ensign."

Ah, so she's in the navy?

Anyway, it was held in Japan, so she is free to do as other right-wing morons here do. After all, her career ended in about 2001 and she's struggling to retain relevance. This is about controversy, and she's making headlines with it. And for that reason, knowing it is controversial, she was stupid to do it. All South Korean fans can do, though, is stop being fans and now see the woman for whom she is. She doesn't deserve to have you as listeners.

Nov. 13, 2017
04:10 pm JST

from wiki:

[T]he South Korean Navy's position is that there are no problems with the carrying of the rising sun flag by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force warships. It would be an infringement of sovereignty if the Korean Navy requested to not carry the rising sun flag.[15] An analysis indicates that Korean reactions to the rising sun flag stem from the complicating emotion of excessive nationalism and nationalistic complex toward Japan.

"excessive nationalism" would be the understatement of the millenium. if you're offended by a flag then there really is no hope for skoreans.

Nov. 13, 2017
06:46 pm JST

Nov. 13, 2017
07:03 pm JST

A man walks down the Falls Road with a Union Jack flag on fire. At the same time, a man walks down the Shankill Road with a Union Jack flag on fire.

Only one of these people will make it to the end of the road.

Why? Because, flags.

If that hypothetical needs googling; try this - Old Glory flag versus the Confederate one. Some will see one as a flag of freedom whilst others will see one as a flag of oppression.

I haven't said which one would be viewed as which, btw. Why? Because, flags.

Flags inspire, motivate and celebrate but they also divide, aggravate and offend.

I'm giving the singer the benefit of the doubt, mind. I'm not of the impression that this was worn with a malicious intent. But I can also understand concerns, even if it is a naval flag as opposed to an Imperial one.

Get rid of all flags, I say. Put them in museums along with the statues.

Nov. 13, 2017
07:24 pm JST

Nov. 13, 2017
09:16 pm JST

@Kohakuebisu: well, I guess the situation is really different in every Country, also in the West. For example, here in Italy that flag has not any political or military connotation, it's considered cool by young people and it's very popular like decoration on clothes and objects. But our history with Japan is different from US or UK history, so I can understand your point.

Nov. 13, 2017
10:44 pm JST

Oh? Without getting too graphic; is it OK if I make your grandparents suffer? You'll forgive me after a few years - even if I pretend it never happened, right?

AgentX, let me put it like this. A certain number of current generation Koreans, I'm not going to stereotype everyone, so I'll just say a certain number, want to continue previous conflicts of over 70 years ago. And it was their grandparents who did all the suffering, not this current generation. Japan and South Korea even have common causes today, with both being aligned to the US and both on the alert over the North Korean threat. And I am not expecting forgiveness, just some common sense that this is now 2017 and there is no Imperial Japanese Army anymore.

My point is, that this certain section of Korean society remain aggressive today about anything Japanese, and it has got to the point where they get offended about a pop singers jacket emblem.

Nov. 14, 2017
01:14 am JST

Ahhh... maybe they should teach Japanese kids the real history of WWII and not some watered down version. All Japanese by that age should know the difference and its implications... especially in Asia. Don't play it down people... she makes her money from Asian audiences... she should have known. She is a pro.

Nov. 14, 2017
01:18 am JST

wtfjapanNov. 13 02:11 pm JSTThe Japanese naval ensign came into use in the 1800s. It flew alongside the Union Jack during the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902. It flew on Japanese naval ships that escorted Australian troops to the European theater in WWI. It has a history long before WWII.

then 30 yrs later it was the symbol of Japanese aggression and the slaughter of millions. Other countries respected Hitler until his invasion of Poland.

Then 4 years later WWII was over. For decades now the flag is symbol of a peaceful nation's maritime defense force that is allied with those nations that it fought. Note that PRC did not exist in 1945 and USSR no loner exists. The ROC, Taiwan has no problem with it. In fact despite the views of the brainwashed South Korean youths, the South Korean military has no problem with the flag.

Nov. 14, 2017
02:30 am JST

maybe they should teach Japanese kids the real history of WWII

Would that be the version where us nice British chaps were kindly teaching the natives how to behave properly but were interrupted by some dreadfully rude Japanese people who waved the most dreadful flags? And they treated the British captives so badly, you know. No better than they treated the natives.

Nov. 14, 2017
09:46 am JST

Flags - once used primarily to identify so as to not cause confusion - have now become more than the "refuge of scoundrels" clamouring together.

They have become symbolic weapons in themselves to wage battles in unity (real or otherwise) against others.

Whether it's a sporting arena, concert, political event, military conflict etc, national flags with political baggage have become de rigeur in the 20/21st C. under which knowing and unknowing people gather and chant.

I'm all for flags/symbols to differentiate sports teams etc - eg Samurai Blue fans could wave a ....Samurai Blue flag instead of Hinomaru or Australia a Kangaroo flag(sic) instead of the official govt symbol.

And Smithy - her career certainly didn't end in 2001. And she is struggling to gain relevance??? Where did you get this idea from??? Post 2001 has been extraordinary for her. Recently health issues(deafness etc) have slowed her down, but still very very relevant.

Nov. 14, 2017
03:02 pm JST

Nov. 14, 2017
05:19 pm JST

@AgentX: The fact is that, deservedly so, the flag is offensive as so many have now pointed out

“Deservedly so” or not is up to the commenters to decide and as many have said (written) above that flag should not be considered offensive as it is not the one which the Korean fans believe it is.

I think it's proper those proponents to take note of the offensive action,

You want a great number of people to be considerate of the mistaken understanding of a bunch of pop music fans but when people give you proof that those fans are mistaken in their understanding you show zero consideration. Right. A very good approach to a constructive discussion. Not.

I have simply called out those that are perverting the course of this discussion.

Nov. 14, 2017
05:59 pm JST

Nov. 14, 2017
11:36 pm JST

Thunderbird2Today 05:59 pm JST It's the current JMSDF flag too... does that mean they are all Imperialists out to wage war against South Korea?

Back in WWII Japan invaded the Philippines, the Japanese Navy flying this flag. In 2013 the JSDF vessels arrived together with the US Navy to provide assistance to the Filipino victims of a major typhoon flying the same flag. No one complained.

Nov. 15, 2017
12:03 pm JST

Nov. 15, 2017
12:40 pm JST

Madonna has ceased being relevent a long time ago. She resorted to offending many people by imitating/mocking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ at her shows. She also uses BDSM elements in her shows and videos and more. If Ayumi Hamasaki is a fading star then maybe the Imperial flag is a chip off the old block - a shock factor.

Nov. 15, 2017
10:12 pm JST

Black SabbathToday 12:03 pm JST The only thing more annoying than Japan's stupid denial about her atrocious treatment of Korea

Atrocious? Name one European colonial power that gave citizenship to it's colonial subjects. The annexation of Korea in 1910 was supported by many Koreans, and resulted in the kind of modernization that Japan itself had gone through in the 1860s...railroads, schools, hospitals and doctors, better nutrition resulting in a longer lifespan, girls were now permitted to go to school, etc etc. While all colonizations have both positive and negative aspects, this "atrocious" treatment of Korea is part of the brainwashed view that is being projected by the anti-japan faction in South Korea. Even the North Koreans, while sharing animosity towards Japan do not concoct false allegations like South Korea does.

Nov. 15, 2017
10:45 pm JST

Ossan:

Name one European colonial power that gave citizenship to it's colonial subjects.

Britain, amongst one of many. It gave refuge to ethnic Indians fleeing East Africa. Many from Hong Kong were given citizenship before the handover. And so so many others from the British commonwealth went to the UK legally and became citizens, be it Hong Kong, the Indian subcontinent or the Caribbean. Surely you're not criticizing Britain for not giving citizenship to the whole of India.

resulted in the kind of modernization that Japan itself had gone through in the 1860s...railroads, schools, hospitals and doctors, better nutrition resulting in a longer lifespan, girls were now permitted to go to school, etc etc.

In that case, I hope you don't criticize China for building railroads, hospitals, etc in Africa, Nepal, and many other places. I mean, surely China is just trying to modernize these downtrodden countries.

starpunk:

Madonna has ceased being relevent a long time ago.

For someone who has, once again, filled out stadiums and arenas throughout the world (and not just East Asia) during her concert tour last year and was one of the top earners, Madonna sure is irrelevant.

She also uses BDSM elements in her shows and videos and more.

I'm totally shocked. What next, twerking?

If Ayumi Hamasaki is a fading star then maybe the Imperial flag is a chip off the old block - a shock factor.

You really should try and learn the difference between 'shocked' and 'angry'.

Nov. 15, 2017
10:46 pm JST

Ossan - while there are elements of truth in your above post, they certainly don't describe the reality for many Koreans citizens who were treated as 2nd class citizens in their own country.

Japan's real greed began with the assassination of the Korean Queen and subsequent annexation and the eventual control of industry & agriculture - all with the purpose of supporting the homeland. 30 years after annexation well over 50% of the land was owned by Japanese. Everthing that was done was done so with the aim of aiding the empire, philanthropy didn't enter the equation.

The bottom line was / is - Did all the Koreans ask to be subjugated? Did they all want to be servants of the Emperor? Did they want to be Japanese? Did they want to fight for Japan in Japan's war?

You can argue all you want about infrastructure benefits - heard that somewhere before "What did the Romans ever do for us..." - but unless you've been ruled by an imperious foreign power, we can't begin to imagine the humiliation, the suffering, the angst, the social upheaval & catastrophe.

So, it's not so difficult to imagine there still remains ill-feeling amongst some of the citizens of modern Korea, who are upset - perhaps fair too easily - but upset nevertheless, over items of what they perceive to be reminiscent of Imperial Rule - ie a flag. Some just don't like it.

Nov. 16, 2017
11:01 pm JST

She like many of her generation have very little knowledge of the animosity that still exist between the older generations of both countries. Animosities that are far ranging even prior to WWII time period. Tha japaneese Naval Flag which is a standard flown from all their ships vice the Japaneese Nation Flag. She is responsible for her Entourage knowing and respecting her fans throughout her entertainment travels, oops she dropped the ball on this one and it will cost her in future sales.

Nov. 17, 2017
03:06 pm JST

@ossan

I am very interested in Japanese history, especially, pre WWII. There is a lot to look at and it seems you know a lot. By the way, I enjoyed the Burma Bridge story. That guy was lucky he didn't get the death penalty.

As far as this story goes, Ayumi Hamasaki was targeted unfairly.

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